La Canada

You have to feel some sympathy for a course like La Canada where it is completely overshadowed by near neighbours, Sotogrande, Valderrama and La Reserva – all of which lie within a five mile radius of here. With top Spanish golf course competition like this, it is easy to understand why the course is often overlooked by visiting golfers.

For twenty years La Canada was a fine 9-hole set up, until the club appointed Dave Thomas in 2002 to add an additional nine holes, extending the original Robert Trent Jones Senior layout to a full 18-hole course.

The Thomas holes now form the front nine, laid out near the main road, whilst the RTJ back nine occupy the more undulating landscape, characterized by fine bunkering and interesting greens. The better holes on the card are undoubtedly the par five 10th and (stroke index 1) hole 12 but the best is saved until last where a heroic tee shot is called for at the 18th, across an intimidating ravine, with fine views of the Guadiaro river and Mediterranean Sea in the background.